Panthers Recognize Carter Verhaeghe’s Value to Team With Recent Extension

The Florida Panthers started their season by splitting their first two games. In their first game, They took down the Boston Bruins, a team they’ve defeated in the playoffs the last two seasons, by a score of 6-4. In their second game, they dropped their first road game of the season to the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-1. While it is still too early in the season to focus on the standings, this ties with five other teams for first in the Atlantic Division and trails the top spot in the NHL by two points.

Immediately following their game against the Bruins, Panthers’ general manager Bill Zito announced during a post-game presser with forward Carter Verhaeghe that he was given an eight-year $56 million contract extension worth $7 million annually. That is definitely an unusual place to announce a new deal, but it sends a message about how close Zito is with his players. With how successful Verhaeghe has played for the Panthers, especially in the postseason, this deal is a long time coming.

Verhaeghe’s Time in Florida

One of the first acquisitions by Zito as a general manager, Verhaghe came to the Panthers on Oct. 9, 2020, in a familiar setting. He came in as a Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning the previous season. Despite playing in 52 games and eight playoff games, it was hard for him to find a role with the Bolts as they had a roster with such players as Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde, and Anthony Cirelli. That offseason, he was brought in just four hours down southeast with the Panthers on a cheap deal. Little did Zito know, he was going to become a huge part of the Panthers’ core.

In his first season, Verhaeghe made an immediate impact. Through 43 games, he had 18 goals and 18 assists. He scored his first career playoff goal and finished his first postseason as a Panther with two goals and an assist through six games. In his second season, he would establish himself as Mr. Clutch with three game-winning goals in the playoffs. One of those gave the Panthers their first playoff series win since 1996.